The Black brothers : a novel in pictures (graphic novel)

In the middle of the 19th century, many young men were sent to Milan to work as slaves. Their lives were extremely difficult and many died from the harsh conditions. But Giorgio was able to survive because of the friendship and solidarity he experienced with a secret band known as the black brothers. Some 100 years later, Lisa Tetzner and her husband Kurt Held wrote about Giorgio's experiences and adventures, and recently the accomplished artist Hannes Binder resurrected the text and added dramatic and impressive engravings, turning the final product into this exciting graphic novel. Jolie Darby - Alan Review Giorgio, a young boy, struggles valiantly to free himself from his master in The Black Brothers . A desperate situation results in Giorgio's father selling him to a strange man for labor in a far off city. A struggle for freedom, acceptance, and bountiful meals awaits young Giorgio in his new home of Milan. A friendship develops that will be the only force to sustain Giorgio's hope for a chance at a life other than chimney sweeping. The Black Brothers is a phenomenally illustrated novel that entices the reader to turn the page again and again to follow the troubled life of Giorgio. The illustrations allow the reader to jump right into Giorgio's terrifying experiences in the chimneys of Milan. A book that will touch your heart, this novel reveals the importance of determination, acceptance, and friendship, as seen through the eyes of one young boy fighting for his freedom. 2004, Front Street Publishing, 144 pp., Ages young adult. In the middle of the 19th century, poor farmers from Ticino sold their children across the Swiss-Italian border to work as "living broomsticks" in the chimneys of Milan. Thirteen-year-old Giorgio's father had no choice but to sell his son; now Giorgio survives with the help of his friend Alfredo and their secret society, the Black Brothers.